Eskimos at Lions: What bettors need to know

Three straight losses without quarterback Travis Lulay have knocked the BC Lions out of contention to host a playoff game. Lulay remains day-to-day with a shoulder injury, meaning the Lions will likely start Thomas DeMarco when they host the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday. DeMarco is completing just 55 percent of his passes and has thrown eight interceptions over the last three games, and will need to be a lot better if Lulay can’t return in time for the West Semifinal.

The Eskimos have lost four in a row and remain winless against West Division opponents, going 0-8. Edmonton has managed just 22 points over its last two games, overshadowing what has been a solid debut season at starting quarterback for Mike Reilly. Reilly has completed 60.1 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions despite being sacked 53 times while also leading the Eskimos in rushing with 624 yards, and should reach 4,000 passing yards against BC.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (3-13): Slotback Fred Stamps, who leads the league with 1,259 receiving yards, is 143 away from tying his career high and has a career-best 11 touchdowns. Linebacker Rennie Curran had another strong game last week, leading the team with eight tackles. Curran, named CFL Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago, is rising to the occasion while linebacker J.C. Sherritt is sidelined with a broken thumb.ABOUT THE LIONS (9-7): Even without Lulay, slotback Nick Moore reached 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his career after emerging as the top option in the BC receiving corps. The Lions' defense runs through linebacker Adam Bighill, who leads the team with 84 tackles and eight sacks. Kick returner Tim Brown leads the league with 1,901 combined return yards.TRENDS:

* Eskimos are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings in BC.* Eskimos are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. West.* Lions are 1-5 ATS in their last six Friday games.* Under is 4-1 in Lions last five home games.EXTRA POINTS:

1. Reilly will have his hands full trying to figure out the BC defense, which has limited opponents to a league-low 243.8 passing yards per game.

2. Eskimos DE Marcus Howard leads the team with 10 sacks.

3. The Lions are 6-1 at home.

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The Sabres were expected to move players at the trade deadline, but sending their top goaltender to the Islanders appears to be a rather curious move. Buffalo had already moved Jhonas Enroth to Dallas in exchange for Anders Lindback, who began his career with the lightning.

Lindback has been brutal this season, posting a record of 0-7-0 with a 3.95 GAA in seven starts with the Stars. He seems to be the most likely candidate to start tonight in Tampa. In the event that the Sabres choose to press Johnson into action, he's not been that sharp either, coming off a loss to Carolina that saw him surrender five goals on 41 shots.

Tampa owns the NHL's most potent offense, averaging over 3.3 goals per game. That could spell disaster for the Sabres who own the league's worst defense, surrendering more than 3.3 goals per game.

Tampa has won it's last three versus the Sabres, totaling a dozen goals in those three games. We should expect Lightning to strike in Tampa tonight.

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